19 feel-good shows to start 2019 off right

Casual

The what: Casual tells the story of the recently divorced Valerie and her teenage daughter, who move in with Valerie’s eccentric and narcissistic brother, Alex. The show, at first, explores Alex and Val’s co-dependent relationship, and we get to wallow around with them as they contemplate how their parents screwed them up. In later seasons, however, we get to watch them grow exponentially, finding ways to live without leaning on each other so heavily.

The feels: I realize I might not have sold it as a “feel good” show, per se, but it delivers. Yes, most of the relationships featured in the show are dysfunctional and border on toxic, but that’s just the price of being human. This show treats some of the heaviest, darkest things a person can go through with levity and wit.

I root for Val and Alex like I secretly root for myself when I’m in a bad place. It’s nice to see families of varying functionality on our screens, and it’s also really good to get to laugh at them, like I try to laugh at my own.

The deets: This show, starring Michaela Watkins as Val, was Hulu’s first foray into original programming, and really put the streaming service on the tip of pop culture’s tongue. Tommy Dewey plays Alex in an endearing, not grating, performance. With this character, it could have gone either way.